Online recruitment up for October

Online employment opportunities in the
UK increased by seven points (seven percent) in October, as job demand reached
its highest level since February 2009.

Opportunities remain significantly below
levels 12 months ago but the annual pace of deterioration has continued to
ease. The overall European Index also increased, registering an uptick of two
points (two percent) in October. However, offerings were down 32 percent
year-on-year.

Year-on-year,
hiring levels in the UK are down 29 percent. The monthly rise in October was
driven by an upturn in demand in education and the export-driven manufacturing
and transportation industries. There were also increases in hospitality and
tourism; and sales sectors, which jumped to a ten-month high as demand for
service and sales occupations surged, possibly boosted by a rise in foreign
visitors and improved consumer confidence. By contrast, opportunities in the
construction sector remained at an all-time Index low.

The Monster
Employment Index Europe is a monthly analysis of millions of online job
opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career
sites and job boards across the European Union, including Monster.co.uk.

“Despite economic indicators showing that the UK remains mired in
recession, the solid expansion in online recruitment activity in October
suggests the fourth quarter is off to a better start,” commented Hugo Sellert,
head of economic research, at Monster Worldwide. “The rise in online job
openings to an eight-month high points to an early recovery in hiring demand.
Companies across the UK may now be considering expanding payrolls again as
economic conditions stabilise.”